gordon



2 Sheets Sheet (No Mode.)

T. H. GORDON.v

MAIL BAG.

Patented Sept. 24, 1895.

ATTORNEYS (No Model.)l 2 sheets-Sheen. 2.

T. IL GORDON;

MAIL BAG. l No. 546,763'. Patented Sept; 24', 1'895.

1,? YM jf Q t L7 '-"B C' H-r-lv L-/l v\\ v MTZ' --.g c3 1 7" a Li', c3 1 G3 la l Il l I /dfusg l l UVENTOR *ig BY WMM ATTOR N EYS ANDREW EGRKHAM,PIIUTCUTNMWASNINGTUMDYC.

UNrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. GORDON, OF LIVERPOOL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM O. WILCOX, OF SAME PLACE.

MAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,763, dated september 24, 1895. Application sled A prn 6,1895. snat No. 544,740. cromada.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. GORDON,

of Liverpool, in the county of Onondaga, in

This invention relates to improvements in mail-bags, and has for its object the production of a device which is particularly light, simple in construction, effective in operation, and durable in use; and to this end it consists, essentially, in the construction and arrangement of the component parts of the bag, all as hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective of the upper portion of a mail-bag constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective of my improved mail-bag having its outer flap folded downwardly and its hinge sections or leaves detached. Figs. 3 ande are vertical sections taken, respectively, on lines 3 3 and 4 4, Fig. l; and Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 3 3, Fig. 1, the outer and inward flaps being folded backwardly for opening the mail-bag and a greater portion of the body of the bag being illustrated.

A represents the body of the mail-bag, which is usually composed of leather and is provided with an opening a, preferably arranged in its top, for the entrance and removal of the mail and a perforation o. for receiving a locking member, presently described. As said bag may be of 'any desirable form and size, I have deemed it neces! sary to illustrate only its upper end.

B is a band, usually composed of leather, which encircles the upper portion of the body and is secured thereto by suitable fastening means, as e. The side of the band B adjacent to the perforation a of the body A is provided with a flap b', projecting from one side of the opening et and lapping upon the opposite side of the band and the opening for closing said opening, and is alsoy provided with a perforation h2, aligned with the perforation a', and a slot b3 forl permitting inspection of a label, presently described. The opposite side of the band B is provided with a projecting outer iiap b4, lapping upon the flap b and the band B and formed with a slot b5, aligned with the slot h5. The flap h is here illustrated as formed integral with one side of the band B and the flap b4 as secured thereto by suitable fastening means be; but it is obvious that the ilapsb b4 may be either formed integral with the band B or suitably secured thereto. The band B may also be dispensed with, if desired, and the flaps b b4 formed upon or secured to the body A.

My improved mail-bag is preferably provided with a suitable label-holder, which may be secured to any desired portion thereof, and preferably consists of a pocket bl, secured to the inner face of the Iiap b and arranged within the outer face of the mail-bag. The pocket bl is aligned with the slots b3 b5 and is provided with an aperture hs in its side wall for the entrance of a label b9, which can bey readily inspected through the slots h3 h5. A stiffeningplate bw, aligned with the slot b5, may be secured to the outer face of the flap b for preventing undue bending of the edges of said slot b5. This label-holder is particularly suitable for use with my improved mailbag, as it is arranged entirely within its outer face and is 'not liable to become detached therefrom. Moreover, the label is securely held from removal when the outer fiap h4 is locked in its closed position, as presently def scribed. It is obvious, however, that labelholders of any other suitable construction may be used with my mail-bag.

The flaps b b4 are preferably provided with suitable connecting means, usually consisting of hinge divisions or leaves C C', extending transversely across said flaps and having their engaging ends c c detachably interlocked with each other. I preferably use interlocking hinge divisions or leaves at each end of the flap b b4; but it is obvious that any desired number thereof may be used. The divisions or leaves C are arranged upon the outer face of the iiap b with their engaging ends in proximity to its free edge, and their IOO opposite extremities are secured to said flap by suitable fastening means e2. The divisions or leaves C are arranged upon the inner face of the fiap b and their ends nearest its free edge are secured by suitable fastening means c3.

The engaging ends c of the hinge divisions or leaves C are here shown as loops and the adjacent ends of the divisions or leaves C as hooks for entering said loops; but said loops and hooks may be reversely arranged and said ends may be suitably constructed for permitting detachable interlocking thereof. lf desired, the adjacent ends of the divisions or leaves C C may be permanently hinged together and one of said divisions or leaves may be detachably secured to the corresponding tiap.

The hinge divisions or leaves C C connect together' the flaps b b and prevent upward movement of the inner flap 1) when the outer flap b4 is secured in 'its closed position, as presently described, and they also act as transverse stiffening-bars for preventing the bending of the flaps b b4 necessary to separate the interlocking ends of the hinge sections orleaves C C and permit upward movement of the flap b. In order to more positively prevent upward movement of the flap b when the mail-bag is closed, I preferably use additional stiffening-bars D, extending transversely across one of the tiaps, as b', and secured thereto by suitable fastening means d. Consequently when the tiap b4 is locked in its closed position the opposite ends of the inner and outer fiaps are securely connected together and the necessary bending thereof for disconnecting said aps is entirely prevented. In some constructions of mail-bags I deem it unnecessary to use the connecting hinge divisions or leaves C C', and in that event use a sufficient number of stiffeningbars D to prevent the necessary bending of the flaps b D to permit of upward movement of the flap D. The flap b4 is held in its closed position by a suitable lock E, which is preferably interposed between the body A and the adjacent portion of the band B, from which the ilap b projects. The lock E is formed with a suitable perforation e, aligned with the perforations a and Z22, previously described, and the free end of the tiap b4 is provided with a locking member b, here shown as a loop movable through the perforations b2 e ct. The lock E is provided with a locking member e', here illustrated as a bolt for engaging the loop b. It is obvious, however, that the locking members b c may be of any desirable form, size, and construction for permitting of their ready engagement. The lock E may also be of any desirable form, size, and construction, and consequently I have deemed it unnecessary to further illustrate or describe the same. Indeed, if desired, the free end of the flap tf1 may be formed with a perforation for receiving a fixed staple or loop projecting from the adjacent face of the band B, and a suitablepadlock may be engaged with the outer end of the fixed staple or loop.

In the practical use of my improved bag the mail is inserted when the fiaps b ZJ" are folded backwardly, as illustrated at Fig. 5. The flap b2 is then lapped over the opening a, the flap b4 is moved upwardly for permitting engagement of the hinge divisions or leaves C C', and the movement ofthe fiap b4 is continued until it is lapped upon the flap b and the band ll and is engaged with the lock E.

In removing the mail the lock E is operated in the usual manner to release the locking,

member b, the ap b4 is folded backwardly for permitting disengagement of the hinge divisions or leaves C C', and the flap b is moved backwardly, whereupon the mail may be readily removed through the opening a.

The operation of my invention will be readily perceived upon reference to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, and it will be particularly noted that my improved mail-bag contains but a minimum number of parts, which are readily assembled, islight in weight, economical iu manufacture, quickly opened and closed, prevents tampering with the mail when locked, and is so constructed that the connecting members for its flaps and the lock for the outer liap are arranged within the outer surfaces of the bag and are not liable to become injured.

It is obvious, however, that the exact construction and arrangement of the parts of my improved mail-bag may be somewhat varied without departing from the spirit of my invention, and consequently I do not herein specilically limit myself thereto.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a mail bag, the combination of a body having an opening therein, an inner flap projecting from one side of the opening and lapping upon its opposite side for closing tho opening, an outer Hap projecting fromthe opposite side of the opening-and lapping upon the former tiap, stitfening pieces extending transversely across one of the flaps, and hinge divisions or leaves secured to the flaps for detachably connecting the same, substantially as described.

2. In a mail bag, the combination of abody having an opening therein, an inner flap projecting from one side of the opening and lapping upon-its opposite side for closing the opening, an outer flap projecting from the opposite side of the opening and lapping upon the former flap,a hinge division or leaf extending transversely across tlie outer face of the inner flap and having one extremity secured thereto and its opposite extremity formed with an engaging end arranged in proximity to the outer edge of said flap, and a hinge division or leaf extending transversely across the inner face of the outer flap and having its extremity arranged nearest the outer edge thereof secured to the flap and IOO IlO

its opposite extremity provided with an engaging end for detachably interlocking with the adjacent end f the former division or leaf, substantiallyas specified.

3. In a mail bag, the combination of a body having an opening in its top, an encircling band secured to the upper portion of the bag and having one side provided with a slot and an inner projecting ap lapping upon the opposite side of the band for closing the opening and its other side provided with an outer flap lapping upon Vthe inner flap and having a slot therein aligned with the former slot, and a label pocket secured to the inner face of the slotted side of the band and aligned with said slots, substantially as described.

' 4. In a mail bag, the combination of abody having an opening therein, an inner flap projecting from one side of the opening and lapping upon its opposite side for closing the opening, an outer Hap projecting from the opposite side of the opening and lapping upon the former flap, a hinge division or leaf extending transversely across the outer face of the inner iiap and having one extremity secured thereto and its opposite extremity formed with an engaging end arranged in proximity to the outer edge of said flap, a

hinge division or leaf extending transversely across'the inner face of the outer iiap and having its extremity arranged nearest the outer edge thereof secured to the Iiap and its opposite extremity provided With an engaging end for detachably interlocking with -the adjacent end of the former division or leaf, and a lock secured to the body for holding the outer flap in its closed position, substantially as set forth.

5. Ina mail bag, the combination with a body having its top provided with separate pieces normally lapped upon each other, one of said pieces being provided with a slot extending therethrough; of a label pocket aligned with the slot and secured to the inner face of said piece for permitting inspection of thelabel through the slot, substantially as and for the purpose described. l

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this th day of March, 1895.

THOMAS H. GORDON.

Witnesses:

E. A. WEISBURG, K. I-I. THEOBALD. 

